Aging and Sexual Health

Today in class, the topic of sexual health was discussed. While the original subject can make many feel uncomfortable, it is important daily occupation for many individuals. If the client finds the idea uncomfortable, they may be waiting for the health professional to bring it up in order to know that it is appropriate. In general, it is important to know that this is in the OT scope of practice and we can bring unique components in order to help individuals fulfill their daily occupation. One individual intervention that could be done if someone was experiencing difficulty with fatigue during sex, we could suggest energy conservation techniques such as positioning to allow the partner to have more movement or even time of day when the individual feels that they have more energy. As a population, the older adult population could be targeted with intervention techniques with specific conditions such as arthritis, if the individual is having trouble with grip during sexual activity, there ways to increase grip on the partner. Educating a group on these techniques may allow for discussion or sharing of strategies if the group has good rapport. Also, many individuals may not even know that these items exist.

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